(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

In today’s news, President Obama criticized a Republican student loan plan as being unfair and poorly conceived; there will be an unusually large number of films by or focused on African-Americans this year; and George Zimmerman’s attorney has backed off accusations that a video featured Trayvon Martin fighting.

Obama rips GOP student loan plan as “not fair” and “not smart.” [BET]

This promises to be a banner year for African-American films. [NY Times]

George Zimmerman’s attorney backtracks on alleged Trayvon Martin video. [Orlando Sentinel]

Three storm chasers among those killed in Oklahoma. [LA Times]

FDA looks to reconsider restrictions on diabetes drug. [NY Times]

GOP lawmakers criticize Eric Holder over leak probes. [LA Times]

Pacers frustrate LeBron James, Heat to force Game 7. [USA Today]

Man born in Senegal vies to be Germany’s first Black parliament member. [NY Times]

FAMU hazing defendant says he protected the victim. [BET]

Ethiopian protesters take to the streets. [BBC]

(Photo: AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, Lauren McGaughy)

In today’s news, a shooting at a Mother’s Day parade in New Orleans left 19 people injured; the victims of the kidnapping in Cleveland have asked that they be allowed privacy; and Black and Latino lawyers are underrepresented in arguing before the Supreme Court.

Shooting at New Orleans Mother’s Day parade leaves 19 injured. [USA Today]

Cleveland kidnapping victims request privacy. [Wall Street Journal]

Black and Latino lawyers underrepresented in appearing at Supreme Court. [Fox News]

Florida A&M student pleads no contest in band hazing death. [BET]

Desmond Tutu said he will no longer vote for South Africa’s ANC. [Mail & Guardian]

Nigerian doctors shut down hospital in protest. [BBC]

There is a lack of Black pitchers and catchers in Major League Baseball. [Baseball Nation]

George Zimmerman’s lawyer wants jury sequestered in Trayvon Martin trial. [BET]

Malcolm X’s grandson killed in Mexico. [BET]

Minnesota is expected to become 12th state to adopt same-sex marriage. [Chicago Tribune]

In today’s top news, President Obama and Mitt Romney wrapped up the presidential debates with a bang, a Black woman in Louisiana says the KKK set her on fire and one of the students in the FAMU hazing case was cleared of jail time.

President Obama and Mitt Romney wrapped up the presidential debates with a bang. [CNN]

A Black woman in Louisiana says the KKK set her on fire. [CBSNews]

One of the students in the FAMU hazing case will not receive jail time for his involvement. [CNN]

Wyclef explains his now infamous Speedo pic circulating the internet. [BET]

Rapper Gunplay is released on $150,000 bond. [BET]

Azealia Banks is boycotting designer Dolce and Gabbana over racist imagery in its Spring 2013 line. [BET]

Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s bid to trademark daughter Blue Ivy’s name was rejected. [CNN]

France plans to send drones to Mali. [AP]

Benin uncovers a plot to poison the president. [AJE]

The Clintons are hosting a delegation in Haiti to show off a newly opened industrial park. [AP]

In today’s top news, doubts remain after police release re-enactment of Chavis Carter’s alleged suicide, FAMU is attempting to settle out of court with the family of  Robert Champion, and Russell Simmons backs Vice President Joe Biden’s “chains” remark.

The police re-enactment of Chavis Carter’s alleged suicide has done little to quell doubts about his death. [NYT]

FAMU is attempting to settle out of court with the family of slain drum major Robert Champion. [BET]

Russell Simmons backs Vice President Joe Biden’s “chains” remark. [BET]

R&B crooners Trey Songz and R. Kelly end their three-year beef. [BET]

Ziggy Marley says his father, Bob Marley, wished more Black Americans were fans of his music. [ABC]

Texas officials are trying to stop the spread of West Nile virus in the state. [NBC]

Scientists say they are one step closer to creating a birth control pill for men. [BBC]

Over 30 people were killed when South African police opened fire on protesting miners. [CNN]

Ugandan gay rights activists hacked the website of the country’s prime minister and posted pro gay-rights messages. [BBC]

The Russian capital of Moscow has banned gay pride parades for the next 100 years. [BBC]

In today’s top news, a coalition of Black fraternities and sororities launch an anti-hazing campaign, John Edwards found guilty of campaign fraud and Walmart drops its alliance with conservative advocacy group ALEC over its voting rights stance.

A coalition of Black fraternities and sororities launch an anti-hazing campaign. [USATODAY]

John Edwards found not guilty of campaign fraud. [BET]

Walmart drops its alliance with conservative advocacy group ALEC over its voting rights stance. [LATimes]

New drugs give autism patients hope for recovery. [Reuters]

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is scheduled to surrender for his three-month jail sentence for his domestic battery charge. [NYDN]

Some critics say Diddy’s son Justin should return the $54,000 scholarship he received from UCLA. [BET]

Kanye’s Nike Air Yeezy II to debut in June. [BET]

Police say drug dealer unknowingly sent text messages to officer in an attempt to sell methamphetamines. [AP]

Rwandan youth minister Callixte Nzabonimana received a life sentence for planning 1994 genocide. [BET]

U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay warned that Syria risks descending into a full civil war. [TIME]

In today’s top news, Attorney General Eric Holder asks Black churches to join the fight for our “sacred” voting rights, a report shows that FAMU drum major Robert Champion died one hour after he was hazed and the makers of FEMA trailers are set to pay $43 million to those suffering from health issues caused by chemicals in the homes.

Attorney General Eric Holder asks Black churches to join the fight for our “sacred” voting rights. [BET]

Report shows that FAMU drum major Robert Champion died one hour after he was hazed. [Miami Herald]

Makers of FEMA trailers set to pay $43 million to those suffering from health issues caused by chemicals in the homes. [CNN]

Black surgeon sues UCLA over racist joke. [The Root]

First Lady Michelle Obama says the president “tucks her in” to bed each night at the White House. [DailyMail]

Bobbi Kristina walked off of the set of her new Tyler Perry show after an emotional breakdown. [BET]

Idris Elba is rumored to star in the next Hunger Games movie. [BET]

After her sister’s big upset loss at the French Open, tennis champ Venus Williams is also out of the tournament. [SI]

Africa NGO says the rush to adopt African children needs to stop. [CNN]

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton points finger at Russia for contributing to Syria’s civil war. [BBC]

In today’s top news, a witness recounts seeing drum major Robert Champion beaten with drum mallets during hazing, former high school football star Brian Banks is exonerated in rape case and Lil Wayne fires back at Pusha T for Young Money diss track.

A witness recounts seeing drum major Robert Champion beaten with drum mallets. [CNN]

Former high school football star Brian Banks is exonerated in rape case. [GMA]

Lil Wayne fires back at Pusha T for Young Money diss track. [BET]

One Atlanta man is gearing up to celebrate Memorial Day with his family from the motherland. [BET]

A high school in Brooklyn plans to hand out condoms for students at this year’s prom. [MSNBC]

The Ukranian reporter who kissed Will Smith apologizes for the gaffe. [BET]

Rapper Kendrick Lamar supports President Obama’s stance on gay marriage. [BET]

Doctors report an increasing number of children eating detergent packs thought to be candy. [AP]

The U.N. urges member nations to drop sanctions against Zimbabwe. [BET]

African Union forces capture Al-Shabab militant stronghold near Mogadishu, Somalia. [BBC]

In today’s top news, Jay-Z says he supports President Obama’s stance on gay marriage, a coalition of Black ministers and civil rights leaders are backing Obama on gay marriage and FAMU’s marching band will be suspended for another year amid the hazing scandal.

Jay-Z says he supports President Obama’s stance on gay marriage. [BET]

A coalition of Black ministers and civil rights leaders are backing Obama on gay marriage. [Politico]

FAMU’s marching band will be suspended for another year amid hazing scandal. [BET]

The shift in support for gay marriage has energized immigrant rights activists. [AP]

Evidence has been filed in the Trayvon Martin case. [Detroit Free Press]

Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul has ended his campaign for the White House. [CSM]

Rev. Jeremiah Wright says Obama’s team tried to bribe him into silence. [BET]

Baltimore’s oldest Black cemetery is restored with the help of inmates. [Baltimore Sun]

New Orleans rapper Mystikal begins his 90-day sentence for domestic abuse. [BET]

American military advisers are in Uganda prepping troops to battle Somalia’s Al-Shabab militant group. [AP]

In today’s top news, FAMU’s band director has stepped down amid the hazing death controversy, Mitt Romney says he’s “fine” with gay couples adopting children and the U.S. Department of Justice is suing an Arizona sheriff for racial profiling and discrimination against Latinos.

FAMU’s band director has stepped down amid hazing controversy. [CNN]

Mitt Romney says he’s “fine” with gay couples adopting children. [National Journal]

U.S. Department of Justice is suing an Arizona sheriff for racial profiling and discrimination against Latinos. [Reuters]

A Black female U.S. Army pioneer says she was mistreated because of her gender. [NYT]

A Florida teacher faces dismissal after disciplining students with a dog collar. [AP]

Kanye West raps about marrying Kim Kardashian. [BET]

Chris Brown and Rihanna feud over lyrics of new song. [BET]

Study shows Black boys at risk for self-harm. [WBLT]

Egypt holds its first televised presidential debate. [MSNBC]

A Nelson Mandela inspired fashion line will debut in the U.S. soon. [BET]

In today’s top news, the last of 11 students charged in FAMU hazing case turns herself in to authorities, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calls violence in Detroit “unacceptable” and Black women see the biggest drop in employment across all races, genders.

Last of 11 charged in FAMU hazing case turns herself in to authorities. [CNN]

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calls violence in Detroit “unacceptable.” [DetroitNews]

Black women see the biggest drop in employment across all races, genders. [BusinessWeek]

Colombian prostitute says her Secret Service agent clients were “stupid brutes.” [NBC]

Raven-Symoné talks to BET.com about her Broadway show, Sister Act and Whitney Houston. [BET]

Singer Chris Brown launches a toy line. [BET]

Study suggests men’s breast cancer more aggressive than women’s. [HealthDay]

Six Jamaicans are arrested in a U.S. lottery scam. [AP]

France elects Francois Hollande president. [BBC]

Four African leaders have been invited to this year’s G-8 summit to discuss food security. [CNN]